Manufacture of base-balls



(ModeL) T. P. TAYLOR.

MANUFACTURE OF BASE BALLS. No. 262,257. Patented Aug. 8, 1882.

UNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS P. TAYLOR, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

MANUFACTURE OF BASE- BALLS:

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,257, dated August 8, 1882.

Application filed July 6, 1882. (Model-l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS P. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brid geport,Fairfield county,C0nnecticnt, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Base-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of playing-balls; and it consists in making the same of the material and in the manner fully described hereinafter, so as to secure sufficient elasticity with reduced expense and greater durability than balls made in the ordinary manner.

The ball consists of istle or tampico fiber formed into a compact spherical mass and suitably covered, and may be effectively made by wrapping or bundling together the said fibers, and then condensing the same by means of semi-spherical heated dies, which both compress and temper the mass, forming a compact, solid; yet elastic filling, upon which the cover is subsequently supplied in any suitable manner.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the mass of istle fibers formed by winding a cord made of such fibers upon itself or by collecting the fibers together under a light pressure or otherwise. Fig.2representshollowdiesheated by steam orotherwise toatemperatureless than that which would scorch the fiber, and adapted to receive between them a mass of fiber, Fig. 1, and to condense and shape the same and simultaneously temper the fiber; and Fig. 3 represents the compacted mass alter it has left the dies with a surrounding netting of cord, whereby the fibers are held together in their spherical condition.

1fdesired,any suitablecement-forinslance, rubber cement or celluloidmay be applied to the fibers, so that the sphere will retain its shape after leaving the dies.

I have found that a ball constructed as above described is much cheaper than one having the usual rubber filling, and is harder, while sufficiently elastic, and that it is more elastic and durable than one made of compacted yarn.

I claim 1. A ball having a filling of istle fiber, as set forth.

2. A ball provided with a filling composed of tempered and compacted istle fibers, as set forth.

3. The mode of making balls, as described, consisting in collecting a mass of istle fibers, condensing and molding the same by heated dies to form a spherical filling, and then covering the latter, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOS. P. TAYLOR.

Witnesses:

HERMAN GAUss, EDWARD L. WHITE. 

